More Metal Gear Solid after MGS4?

Good news, lads! According to Next-Gen.biz Konami says that "Metal Gear man Hideo Kojima will “always” be involved with the Metal Gear franchise, despite the game designer’s statements to the contrary." Kojima said many times Metal Gear Solid 4 is his last MGS game. Apparently, Konami has a different opinion. Some marketing guy told Next-Gen.biz in a recent phone interview that they'll never let the MGS franchise go, nor the Snake. We madprofessors understand that of course. On the other side we also understand Hideo Kojima who - afer four Metal Gear Solid games - wants to go further. Anyway, Konami can always use him as an adviser or consultant for more Metal Gear Solid games.

Gears of War PC

Here it is. Though both Microsoft and Epic have been rather diplomatic on the PC version of Gears of War, an obvious fact finally came out a few weeks ago.
Gears of Wars for PC is coming out Q4 2007. PC version will add five new campaign missions, new multiplayer modes, and more - especially the level editor.

IGN: Can you describe what's possible with the level editor or generally how it works?

Cliff Bleszinski: This is the same exact tool that our designers used to build, script, and visualize the "Gears of War" environments. All of those graphics - from the pillars in the House of Sovereigns to the intricate cave stalagmites in the Hollow - will be available for mod makers to build whatever they can imagine. We're dying to see what the community comes up with, not just in environments but also with the scripting tools. (read more)

And how does Gears of War on PC look? GameSpot has the answer:

"As good as Gears of War looked on the Xbox 360 (and it looked great), it's got nothing on what it looks like on a high-end PC. That's the first thing that struck us as we got to see and play the upcoming PC version of last year's blockbuster Xbox 360 shooter." (read more)

Now, here's the question: What's the Xbox 360 for when ALL the games for it come to PC sooner or later? Hmmmpppf?

SimCity Societies

Looks like Electronic Arts really do get the new approach they promised. SimCity Societies is a new title in the well-known SimCity franchise. But there are few important differences from the previous Sim City games: it's not beeing developed by Maxis, instead Electronic Arts choose Tilted Mill Entertainment (creators of Caesar IV or Children of the Nile). Moreover, the new SimCity Societies looks more like the excellent City Life. There's no zoning anymore, you construct directly the building you want to have in your city. Each of the building emits a "social" energy like obedience, happiness, creativity and by these energies to these you can design all your city.
Very interesting approach to the new SimCity title, though I think it's just a spin-off and sooner or later there'll be the "classic" SimCity 5. Or something like that.

Play games for free!

We've just launched a new download site - Download Games 4 Free. You can download Board Games, Action, Kids, Card Games, Puzzle Games and many more!

PlayStation Home - new PS3 online service

Phil Harrison has a pleasant surprise for all the PlayStation 3 owners. It's called PlayStation Home. “Basically, you get to make an avatar for your console (like a Mii) and this avatar has a room. As you play games and accomplish certain tasks, you will receive items with which to adorn the room that are specific to the game (like Achievements). The kicker is that this is going to be a new requirement for every PS3 game.”
There's been a nice fight between Sony and Kotaku which resulted in confirming the very promising PlayStation Home online service which seems to be quite an advanced version of Wii Mii and Xbox 360 Achievements. What will Nintendo and Microsoft say?

// seen at videogamesblogger

CryEngine 2 Tech Demos - photorealism, finally?

GameTrailers shows off two new trailers from the adored CryEngine 2 by German game developers CryTek (now owned by Electronic Arts). Real-time video rendered with CryEngine 2 shows beautiful landscape behind glass windows and practically photorealistic interiors and exteriors. OK, photorealism is here. What's next?

// seen at ggmania

3 million Gears of War sold

Bravo, Microsoft & Epic! Almost every second owner of the Xbox 360 game console has bought the celebrated Gears of War game. Now it's 100% certain there will be Gears of War 2, Gears of War 3 and maybe even Gears of War 4. Who knows?!